Electrical connecting and supporting device



APPucmo'u HLED um. 10. I920.

Patented D90. 7, 1920.

' source UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST CANTELO WHITE, 0]? NEW YORK. N. Y.. ASSIGNOR TO ELECTRIC OUTLET COMPANY. INC.. OF NEW YORK. N. Y.. A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

' ELECTRICAL CONNECTING AND SUPPORTING DEVICE.

1211.51 may concern.

own that 1. Easter CANTELO q ttlzen of the lnited States, resid- "orough of the Bronx of the city X 'ork. in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful 1m grovenrentls' in Electrical Connecting and uppgrt-ii ng Devices, of which the following is a specification. reference being had totlie acc maanym drawing, forming a part hereo 'J,

This xmtfiention relates to electric-alcohnectin gjand,supporting devices useful under any con'ditions where it is sought to support an ele ical device and connect it to a current. 'hile the improved devicesmay be employed in connection with surfaces inclined at any angle to the horizontal a' fid for the support of electrical attachmeiits of any character, the invention is I is to provide a simple and sightly device which will permit ligl'iting fixtures to be readily interchanged without skilful manipulation. the attachment of a fixture to the improved support serving at the same time to establish electrical connection between it and the current source. Such fixtures will be so constructed and Standardized that they may be readily attached to standardized supports. In such cases it is proposed in accordance with the present invention to provide a sightly flush receptacle which will receive the improved electrical connecting and supporting devices and which. when not in use. will be entirely unobjectionahle in appearance harmonizing with the support ing surface in such a pleasing manner as to be hardly noticeable. 'ith a plurality of such receptacles in a single room fixtures may be readily supported removahly at any desired place and the greatest enjoyment and the most efi'ective lighting secured by reason of this portabl'e character.

Moreparticularly. the invention is con- .cerned w'ith a device which shall. mechanicallyjapd electrically. serve as a connector and suppo rt for attaching fixtures to ceilings and satisfy manufacturing requirements'ot i simplicity and cheapness. Me 'chanicall \i. the support is based on a principle which may find embodiment in struc- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 7. 1920.

tnres of great variety. Broadly. the structure ncludes a receptacle provided with a terminal. and a plug member including fixture supporting means and an inclined llustrated herein as-a curved) conducting andsupporting member to enter the receptacleand engage the terminal. said recep tacle and terminal including a bearing surface within the receptacle for the side of the conducting and supporting member nearest to the plug member. said receptacle and plug member also including cooperating means for resisting the turning moment of the conducting and supporting member about the said bearing surface by the force exerted on the fixture supporting means.

One embodiment of the invention illustrated in the ziccompanying drawing. in which- 4 Figure 1 a view in vertical section through a flush receptacle and showing the application thereto of the improved supporting and connecting devices. the view being taken along the plane indicated by the broken lines 1-1 of Fig. 5 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 2 is a detail view in section through the improved supporting devices and taken on a plane at right angles to the plane of section of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view in horizontal section through the improved support taken on a plane indicated by the line 3-43 of Fig. l and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. l is a detail view in elevation of one of the improved supporting conductors showing its relation to the insulating segment.

Fig. 5 is a view in horizontal section ta ken through the flush receptacle shown in Fig. 1 along the planes indicated by the broken lines of Fig. l and looking in the direction of the arrows.

As stated hereinhet'ore. while the i111 proved electrical connecting and supporting devices may find application to surfaces in clined at any angle to the horizontal and to electrical attachments of varied character. this application discloses the association of such devices with a lighting fixture which is to be sus iended from a ceiling. As indicated in l ig. 1 the pendant support for a lighting fixture or other electrical attachment is indicated sufiiciently by a t'ragnwnt of a link a and an outlet box of approved ably made up -0 form is illustrated at b. The provide an electrical connectm porting device having universe ity of apgiltlfllilOll to such pendant supports, as inicated at a, and to an outlet box or the llke, such as is indicated-at b; The front wall of the receptacleto' be described, is illustrated as a'face late a, which is preferinsulating material throughout; for a reason which will later appear, and may be fastened conveniently to the outlet box I) bymeans of an interposed angle piece (I secured to the outlet box b and to the plate a by means of screws e, respectively. Within the outlet box b and preferably secured to the reverse face of the plate 0 are two blocks 9, h, of insulating material, secured together by means of bolts 5 and formed with recesses g' ,h', respectively. to receive suitable terminals k, 1, respectively, which are in electrical connection with the main leads in, l of'the source of current supply. The terminals k, I may conveniently be formed of opposed spring plates. The blocks 9, it may be secured in place on the face plate 0 by means ofsuitable through-bolts m, the heads m of which may rest in recesses formed in the face of the plate a in the interest of sightliness. The blocks g, h with the plate 0 constitute a receptacle.

The electrical connecting and supporting devices proper are formed, in accordance with the illustrated embodiment of'the invention. as two reversely curved conductors n. 0 which may be passed through curved grooves 0' formed in the face plate 0. Each of these conductors 0. n is secured at its lower end to a semicylindrical segmental block 0'. a. respectively, as by means of studs 0". n respectively,-passing through the said blocks. As shown clearly in Fig. 3 the semicylindrical blocks'n', o, are. recessed on their meeting faces, as at n 0, respectivelyato receive the conductors 'n, 0, and their conne ting studs n, 0, and afford problem is to sufiicicnt clearance between the parts so as,

to eliminate any chance of short circ iiting at this point. The supporting studs n, 0, may be used as ternnnal posts, being threaded at their inner ends to receive binding nuts 11. 0, respectively. by which the, fixture leads 7:. p are conveniently connectedelec- It is to be understood. however. that other means for trically to the conductors a. o.

attaching the conductors n, 0 to. their respec tive blocks a. 0'. may be employed and such connecting means may be entirely independent of the electrical connections, if desired. Such details are matters of design and will be determined by electrical and mechanical considerations.

The two segmental blocks 11. 0' are threaded exteriorly and when these blocks are pieced together, with diametrical faces and supequipped in contact, they will constitute a true cylinder on to which ma be threaded a locki ring 9 of any suita le form and connect mechanically with the pendant support 1:

The details of one suitable embodiment for carrying out the invention having been described. the relation'of parts for-accomplishing the electrical connection and support between the electrical attachment and the flush receptacle will now be pointed out in such manner as to indicate the principle involved so that the scope of the invention may be better appreciated. The face plate 0, it is to be understood, will be of sigluly appearance and will lie substantially flush with the ceiling harmonizing therewith in such manner as to be practically unnoticeablc, sothat when no fixture is associated with that particular outlet box I). the exthe two'conductors 11. o. \Vhen it is de ired to place the fixture in position. it will be selected to,suit the fancy. it being ,understood that in the broadest aspect of the invention. itis proposed to have 'all fixtures with some such universal connector as is exemplified by the ring g. The conductors n. 0. will then be connected electrically to the fixture wires 11,, p, the blocks 11', 0 at this time being. of course. free from the ring 9. One of the conductors, 'n'. will then be passed up through its groove '0' in the ceiling plate 0 and the other conductor 0 will then be passed up through its groove 0' in the ceiling plate. In the illustratedembodiment of the invention, it is proposed to lay the conductors n. 0 out on arcs of circles struck about centers which. as viewedin Fig. 1, will lie on the periphery of the segments 11', 0' or.,perhaps, outside of these peripheries; Further, the grooves c are.

laid out .onarcs of circles struck about the same center and therefore concentric with the arcs of the circles on which the corn.

ductors n, :0 are. laid out. In the illustrated embodiment, the conductor n, for instance. is

struck all on the fare of a circle having its.

center at about thepoint r, so .that in passing-the conductor "up through the curved groove, 0",, the block n will be so'tilted and manipulatedwas to permit the-curved conductor 'n to conform always to the curvature of the groove 0'. As the conductors n. o are forced upwardly fully home they will be engaged by the opposed spring arms of the terminals Z, 71. respectively. thereby placnection with thesource of currentsupply. With the conductors n, 0 fully home and the diametrical meeting faces of the segments ing the fixture wires 1). p, in electrical coni n o in flush engagement, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the rlng 9 may then be threaded on to the true cylinder formed by the se ments,

the upper edge of the ring finally caring inst the face of the plate 0. The

snugly a side of t e conducFdr -n nearest to the pla 'n' will bear against the wall of the groove 0 The weightof the fixture will obi iously set up a turnirjg moment on the conductor n about its bearing surface on the wall of the groove 0' which will tend to withdraw it about the center 1'. At the same time .the weight of the fixture will set up a turning moment on the side of the conductor 0 nearest to the block 0 about its bearing surface on the wall of the other groove c'which will act about the center of its curvature 2*. These turning moments on the two reversely curved conductors n, 0, which are lever arms, are equal and opposite and so will equalize one another. The weight of the fixture will then be transmitted directly to the face plate 0 and exerted thereon along the edges of the grooves c. The stresses thus imposed on the plate a will be adequately resisted thereby and the fixture supported firmly in place. In this connection it may be desirable in all embodiments to provide the ring at its upper edge with a flange, such as q which will bear against the face plate 0. at points outside of the centers of curvature r, r of the respective conductors n. 0, this additional bearing surface setting up counter moments to the turning moments of the conductors n, 0 at such points as to lessen the stresses imposed on the plate a.

It has been sought herein to indicate the departures in form and relation which may be made in the elements while preserving their functions mechanically and electrically in the full sense contemplated by the principles on which the invention is based.

I claim as my invention:

1. An electrical connecting and supporting device including a receptacle formed with an entrance opening and provided with a terminal. and a plug member including fixture supporting means. a curved conducting and supporting 'member to-cngagc the terminal and insulating means between the fixture supporting means and Silld conducting member. said receptacle and terminal including a bearing surface within the receptacle for the side of the conducting and supporting member nearest to the plug mcmber. said receptacle and plug member also including coiipcratiug means for resisting the turning moment of the conducting and supporting member about [he said hear iug surface by the weight of a fixture on the fixture supporting means.

9 An elcctrical connecting and supporting device including a receptacle formed with entrance openings and provided with terminals, and a plug member including fixture supporting means, two conducting and supporting members inclined in different directions to engage the respective terminals and insulating means between the fixture supporting means and said conducting members, said receptacle and terminals including bearing surfaces within thereceptacle for the sides of "the conducting and supporting members nearest to .the plug member, respectively, said plug member and fixture supporting means including cooperating means for reslstmg the turning Inoments of the conducting and supporting members about their respective bearing surfaces by the weight of a fixture on the fixture supporting means.

3. An electrical connecting and supporting device including a receptacle formed with entrance openings and provided with terminals. and a plug member includin" fixture supporting means, two curved con ducting and supporting members extending in opposite directions to engage the r spective terminals and insulating means between the fixture supporting means and said conducting members. said receptacle and terminals including bearing surfaces within the receptacle for the sides of the conducting and supporting members nearest to the plug member. respectively, said plug member and fixture supporting means includingcoiiperating means for resisting t ie turning moment of the conducting and supporting members about their respective oearingsu-rfaces by the weight of a fixture on the fixture supporting means.

4. An electrical connecting and supporting device including a receptacle formed with entrance openings and providcd with terminals. and a plug member including fixture supporting means. two curved conducting and supporting members extending in opposite directions to engage the respective terminals and insulating means between the fixture supporting means and said conducting members. said rcceptacle'and terterminals and a plug member including fix-- tin-c supporting Il1t2ll1. two conducting and supporting members. inchncd in different directionsto engage the respective terminals. and insulating means between the fixturc supporting means and said conducting members. i 6. An electrical connecting and supportmg device including a receptacle formed with two entrance openings andprovided with terminals, and a' plug member including fixture supporting means, two curved conducting and supporting members, extending in opposite directions, to engage the respective terminals, and insulating means between the fixture supporting means and said conducting members.

7. lectrical connecting and supporting device including a receptacle formed with an entrance opening and provided with a terminahand a plug member includa fixture supporting tireaded member. 'a curved conducting and'supportmg memher to engage the terminal, and insulating means between said threaded member and said conducting member, the threaded member being supported by said insulating means, the plug member and fixture supporting member also including cooperating means for resisting the turning moment of the conducting and supporting member about the saidbearing surface by the weight ofa fixture on the fixture supporting mem her.

8. An electrical connecting and supporting device including a receptacle formed with entrance openings and provided with terminals, and a plug member including fixture supporting means. two conducting. and supporting members. inclined in ditl'crcnt directions. to engage the respective terminals. and two insulating blocks to which the conducting members are secured. respectively, and on which the fixture supportinp means are carried. said plug member and fixture supporting means including cooperating means for holding the insulating blocks against movement relative to one another.

9. A receptacle for an electrical connect ing and supporting device formed with entrance openings for curved conducting and supporting members of a fixture supporting plug member of the device. and provided \vitl' terminals to be engaged by said conducting and supporting members, said reccpiaclc and terminals including bearing surfaces within the receptacle for the sides of the conducting: and supporting members neare t to the plug member. respectively. said bearing surfaces being in such relation to the conducting and supporting members that the latter have turning moments about their caring surfaces. respectively. by the weight of a fixtureon the fixture opportin; plug member.

W. A receptacle for an electrical connecting and supporting device formed witlrentrance openings for two conducting and sup-.

. with terminals to be engaged by the conducting and supporting.members. said receptacle and terminals including two curved grooves extending in opposite directions for the sides of the conducting and supporting members nearest to the plug member. re spectively.

12. A plug for an electrical connecting and supporting device including fixture supporting means. a curved conducting and supporting member to enter a receptacle of the device and engage a terminal and bearing surface therein. insulatinganeans between the fixture supporting means and said conducting member. and mains to cooperate with thereceptaele to resist the turning moment of the curved conducting and supporting member about-its bearing surface by the weight of a iixturc on the fixture supporting means.

13. A plug for an electrical connccting and supporting device including tixturc lllporting means. two conducting and .-ll|) porting members inclined in difl'erent dircctiolls to engage terminals and earing surfaccs within a receptacle of the dcvicc. and insulating means between the lixturc supporting means and said conducting members. i

ll. plug for an electrical connecting and suppmting device including fixture sup porting means. two curved conducting and supporting members extcndin; in opposite directions to engage terminals and bearing surfaces within a receptacle ot' the device. and insulatiml means between the lixturc supporting means and said conducting members. said plug also including means to resist the turning moments of the conducting and supporting members about their respective bearing surfaces by the weight of a fixture on the fixture supporting means.

15. A plug for an electrical connecting and supporting device includingiixture supporting means. two curved conducting and supporting members extending in opposite directions to engage terminals and bearing surfaces within a receptacle of the device, and two insulating blocks to which the respective conductin members are secured and on which the xture supporting means ios are carried, said plug and fixture supporting gage terminals and bearing surfaces within means also including means to hold the a rece' Lacie of the device, and two insuiul- 10 blocks against relative movement. ing b ocks to which the conducting mum- 16. A plug for an electricf'egl. connecting hers are secured, respectively, and on which 5 and supporting device including' a threaded the threaded member is screwed.

fixture supporting member, two curved con- This specification signed this 19th day of ducting and supporting members extending December, A. D. 1919.

in opposite directions and adapted to en ERNEST CANTELO WHITE. 

